Our Services
Petrone Associates addresses the specific needs of clients in every aspect of diagnostic and therapeutic ionizing and non-ionizing radiation applications. We provide expert consultative services in all modalities, as listed below. Services are designed to comply with all pertinent local, state and federal requirements of all regulatory agencies and organizations (e.g., MQSA, ACR, IAC and Joint Commission Accreditation standards).
Radiation Oncology Physics Services
Modality: Linear Accelerator
- New Department/Equipment selection and planning
- Shielding design and specification
- Full radiation oncology regulatory support
- Radiation safety survey
- Equipment commissioning and treatment planning system data formatting and acceptance
- Equipment calibration as needed
- Annual MVCT and KVCBCT dosimetry
- Imaging system evaluation
- Monthly machine quality assurance
- End to end testing
- Accreditation support (ACR, ACRO, and ASTRO)
- Physics peer program review
- Medical physics and medical dosimetry on-site clinical personnel support
- Weekly chart checks
- Plan generation and review
- Brachytherapy planning and treatment
- IMRT, IGRT, SBRT, and VMAT treatment planning and QA
- Cyberknife planning
- Tomotherapy planning, calibration and QA
Modality: Superficial X-Ray
- Acceptance, Commissioning and Annual Calibration
Modality: Proton Therapy
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Full Facility Support (technical, regulatory, and physics)
Diagnostic Imaging Physics
Modality: Computed Tomography
- Joint Commission compliance physics
- ACR and IAC accreditation physics
- Shielding analysis and design
- Radiation safety survey
- Acceptance testing
- Annual, semi-annual, monthly, and periodic testing (customized)
- Quality control manual
- Radiation safety and dose optimization education
- Comprehensive Dose Optimization
- Patient dosimetry
Modality: CBCT
- Shielding analysis and design
- Radiation safety survey
- Acceptance testing
- Annual, quarterly, and periodic equipment testing (customized)
- Quality control manual
- CBCT radiation safety education
- Staff training
Modality: Dental, Panorex and Cephalometric
- Shielding analysis and design
- Radiation safety survey
- Annual equipment performance evaluation
- CRESO evaluation (NYS)
Modality: Mammography
- ACR, MQSA and IAC accreditation physics
- Shielding analysis and design
- Acceptance testing
- Radiation safety survey
- Annual and periodic testing
- Annual workstation evaluation
- Radiation safety education
- Radiation dose analysis and optimization
- Staff training
Modality: Magnetic Resonance
- Joint Commission compliance physics
- ACR and IAC accreditation physics
- Facility analysis, consultation and verification testing
- Acceptance testing
- Annual and periodic testing
- MRI Safety Compliance Audit
- MRI Safety Training
Modality: Radiographic and Fluoroscopic
- Shielding analysis and design
- Radiation safety survey
- Acceptance testing
- Annual, semi-annual, quarterly and periodic testing (customized)
- Radiation safety and training
- Quality control and radiation safety manual
- Patient dosimetry
Modality: Computed and Digital radiography
- Acceptance testing
- Periodic comprehensive system evaluation (customized))
Modality: Primary Diagnostic Monitors
- Acceptance testing
- Annual, quarterly and periodic evaluations
Modality: Nuclear Camera (SPECT and SPECT/CT)
- Joint Commission compliance physics
- Quarterly comprehensive department compliance audits
- ACR and IAC accreditation physics
- Shielding analysis and design
- Radiation safety survey
- Acceptance testing
- Annual, semi-annual, quarterly and periodic testing (customized)
- Radiation safety education and training
- Radiation dose analysis and optimization
- Patient dosimetry
- Radiopharmaceutical therapy physics
- Quality control and radiation safety manual
- Fugitive waste monitor evaluation
- Homeland Security radiation emergency program
Modality: Primary Diagnostic Monitors
- Joint Commission compliance physics
- ACR and IAC accreditation physics
- Shielding analysis and design
- Radiation safety survey
- Acceptance testing
- Annual, semi-annual, quarterly and periodic testing (customized)
- Radiation safety education and training
- Radiation dose analysis and optimization
- Quality control and radiation safety manual
Modality: PET (PET/CT and PET/MRI)
- Joint Commission compliance physics
- ACR and IAC accreditation physics
- Shielding analysis and design
- Radiation safety survey
- Acceptance testing
- Annual, semi-annual, quarterly and periodic testing (customized)
- Radiation safety education and training
- Radiation dose analysis and optimization
- Quality control and radiation safety manual
Secure Client Portal
Exclusively for clients of Petrone Associates, and provided at no charge, access to a secure custom client portal will be provided. Stored on the portal for access 24/7/365 are all documents and physics reports (listed by room/unit name) that are generated as a result of our professional interactions. These include but are not limited to, all physics and quality assurance documents, radiation safety minutes and correspondence, dose optimization materials, physics calibration certificates and physics personnel credentials. Also, exclusively for clients, the website contains important Links, Forms and Policies as well as Education Programs covering a complete range of topics.
Clients find the portal an invaluable resource which ensures an organized one-stop destination for all their compliance needs. Understanding the importance of this resource, we are committed to a dynamic, ever-evolving portal, and will continue to enhance the functionality of the website, taking into account your needs as a valued client.
Access Your Reports
Joint Commission Compliance
Petrone Associates offers comprehensive, full service medical physics programs and testing for all ionizing and non-ionizing diagnostic imaging and therapeutic modalities including Dose Optimization, Regulatory Compliance, Computed Tomography, Mammography, Magnetic Resonance, Nuclear Medicine, Radiation Safety Office, Radiation Oncology Physics and beyond.
Beginning in 2019 Petrone Associates will introduce a new suite of compliance services that include CT Dose Optimization and a Fluoroscopy Program for both Joint Commission and state requirements, and a full service Radiation Safety Office Program.
CT Dose Optimization – Joint Commission and State Requirements:
- Set up of monitoring program
- Participation in establishing methodology for monitoring CT doses
- ACR DIR set up consultation, mapping, testing of data transfer integrity and accuracy
- Set alert values for real time monitoring by CT staff
- Establish methodology for real time recording and action for doses which exceed alert levels
- Initial review of all protocols
- Conduct initial CT Dose Optimization (required) educational session for CT staff (ASRT 1 credit), and perform annually thereafter.
- Quarterly comprehensive analysis of CT dose data for each scanner.
- Review of all protocols reported against National data and established benchmarks.
- Creation of report to include list of alerts and summary of analysis
- List of protocols and comparison of each to the National registry data
- Discussion of outliers and summary with recommendations for improvement
- In person attendance at Radiation Safety Committee / Dose Committee to present comprehensive Dose Optimization Compliance report and discuss findings, recommendations and action steps.
- Annual review of CT Dose Optimization Compliance Program. Report will include summary of noteworthy changes in the past 12 months, an annual physics protocol review and record of annual CT Dose Optimization training.
Fluoroscopy Program – Joint Commission and State Requirements:
- Initial and Annual review of Fluoroscopic protocols, policies and procedures. Participation and consultation in policy and protocol generation.
- Participation in setup of Fluoroscopic dose monitoring procedures with alert values and action steps. Setup of record keeping mechanism to upload procedural data for analysis and inclusion in reporting and follow up.
- Quarterly comprehensive analysis of fluoroscopic doses facility-wide. Follow up on those exceeding alert values. Dose analysis (peak skin dose) and reports for individual cases as needed (unlimited). Comprehensive report for presentation at Radiation Safety Committee / Dose Committee meetings.
- In personal attendance at RSC / Dose Committee to present comprehensive fluoroscopy compliance report.
- Education:
- Maintain program of compliance with all Joint Commission and State requirements for education/credentialing in fluoroscopy / FGI.
- Utilize robust online platform to track initial and refresher training for all pertinent facility staff (e.g., surgeons, cardiologists, nurses, pain management, endoscopy, etc.) as supplied by facility.
- System will track compliance and regular quarterly reports will be provided to facility.
- System provides auto on-line training tailored to the categorical requirements of individual staff.
Radiation Safety Office (RSO) – Full Service Program
- Establish and maintain a fully compliant Radiation Safety Committee
- Contribute as key member of Dose Committee
- Participate in other pertinent facility committees (e.g., EOC, QI, QA, etc.)
- Maintain and continually update Radiation Safety Policies and Procedures
- On site presence per State (or other) requirements
- Dose reduction initiatives of ACR, State, Joint Commission, etc.
- Administer comprehensive Radiation Safety training curriculum facility-wide
- Joint Commission RSO responsibilities in facility’s CT Dose and Fluoroscopy programs
- Maintains comprehensive ALARA program
- Implements robust personnel monitoring program
- Quarterly and Annual reports to RSC / Dose Committees
- Comprehensive Annual review of overall Radiation Safety Program
- Individual consultation regarding employee/ patient radiation exposure
- Participate in facility radiation emergency response plan
- Maintain Radioactive Materials license (renewals and amendments)
- Fulfill all traditional roles of medical RSO as well as new Joint Commission / State roles recently defined.
General Regulatory Compliance
- Annual department audits for compliance with Joint Commission, ACR (or IAC) and State regulations. Each audit will include a comprehensive report and a summary of action items which facilitate and organize a state of full compliance.
- Radioactive materials licensing applications and amendments
- Assistance with Radiation equipment registrations and permits
- Regulatory liaison to represent the client in any communication, program, action, etc.
- Robust Regulatory Alert system to notify clients of up-to-date new enforcement information